After the cable dropped across Atlantis and the Lemurians first attacked, there was a great cultural upheaval in Atlantis. A group of philosophers formed a secret society, which was to become known as the Cult of the Coral. The cult was a fairly benign group, and the royal family turned a blind eye to their activities as their actions harmed no one. Their only aim seemed to be self-enlightenment through the study of mysticism and psychic energy.

The peaceful Cult of Coral kept mostly to itself bothering no one and founded the first Atlantean colony. In a secret cavern, some distance from Atlantis in a place the surface worlders called the Sir Francis Drake Channel, the cult gathered to worship a humongous brain coral . At the death of each member of the cult, a portion of their consciousness was ritually imbued into the brain coral. The reason for the choosing of this site was due to the fact that is rested upon the nexus of two major ley lines, which generated vast amounts of psychic and mystic energy.

Over time the brain coral gained a consciousness of its own due to the sacrifices. The brain coral proceeded to advise the cultists. With the aid of the brain coral the cultists grew in wealth. When a cultist's time came they generally donated their wealth to the cult. It was all that wealth and energy that was to be the downfall of the cult.

Horemheb was a member of the cult, but proved to be false to the group. It only took one look at all of the wealth and the energy that the cult had accumulated over the years, and greed entered Horemheb's heart. Soon a plan grew in his mind. He would have the wealth, and the psychic energy becoming the richest and the most powerful Atlantian in the ocean.

Horemheb studied long and hard until five years later, he attacked the Cavern of the Coral. None of the peaceful cultists were able to stand in his way. Death and destruction followed in Horemheb's wake. Eventually Horemheb stood before the brain coral desirous of all the treasure stacked around it to the ceiling of the cavern. A greedy smile crossed Horemheb's face.

Unfortunately Horemheb didn't count on the brain coral. A battle ensued between Horemheb and the brain coral. Psionic blasts rocked the cavern, and psychic forces were unleashed by the brain coral. In the end, Horemheb became desperate knowing that defeat was imminent and unleashed a burst of mental energy that engulfed Horemheb, the cavern, the brain coral and the treasure.

Everything was destroyed in an explosion of mystical energy. Quakes from the destruction of the Cavern of the Coral were felt around the nearby islands. An entire side of the mountain that the cavern was part of was completely gone.

It wasn't until over a century later that a scientific expedition stumbled upon the cavern. Floating in the center of the ruins was Horemheb. It was obvious to the superhero Reef that the man was wounded and he quickly brought him to Key West. Dr. Alicia Zuniga examined Horemheb. It was revealed that a piece of brain coral had lodged in the forehead, chest, and the palm of the right hand of the man. When the man awakened the two were further surprised when the man pronounced that he was actually the brain coral and that the mind of Horemheb was no more. After a philosophical discussion, Horemheb - who now called himself Brain Coral - asked to be allowed to join their ranks and use his psionic abilities to help safeguard the people of the Caribbean.

Personality

The mind of Horemheb has been replaced by the psychic consciousness of the brain coral. Being the focus of a benign cult, the strictures of the cult have stayed with Brain Coral even after the destruction of its followers. One of the basic tenets of the cult was a deep respect for life in its many forms. Brain Coral would never knowingly use its psychic abilities to mortally wound a foe.

Another tenet of the coral cult was a constant thirst for knowledge. Generally this meant philosophical study. While Brain Coral sticks with this as well, his desire to learn new things causes Brain Coral to constantly study everything he encounters. To Brain Coral every new day brings a new discovery.

Brain Coral is a very devout creature. It follows the rules that it laid down over the centuries. While Brain Coral is capable of read other peoples thoughts, and even seizing their minds, its against faith to do so without their consent. However, in times of emergency Brain Coral will use its abilities to neutralize its foes.

Quote

"Only through knowledge may one transcend to a high plane of consciousness."

Powers

Brain Coral is a powerful psychic. Its mind is able to disable a foes mind merely by concentration. Brain Coral is telepathic and is able to communicate psionically. By further extending it's telepathy Brain Coral can seize the mind of a large group of beings. Like most mentalists Brain Coral is well protected from mental attacks. To protect its body from harm Brain Coral can project a powerful psionic shield.

Appearance

The body that Brain Coral now inhabits is rather on the lean side. Eating is something new to Brain Coral and at times he forgets to eat. Brain Coral keeps its scalp shaved and has tattooed a brain-like pattern across its cranium. He also doesn't seem to have much of a fashion sense either. Brain Coral typically wears a shark skinned vest, and a pair of red trunks. A piece of brain coral is embedded in three points on the host body.